Are you frustrated by the rising costs and lengthy timelines associated with traditional software development processes? If so, low-code platforms offer a promising alternative that can help you create software solutions for your business.
With in-built templates, a drag-and-drop interface, and minimal hand coding, low-code tools enable faster development cycles and improve efficiency. According to a report by Fortune Business Insights, the global low-code development platform market is estimated to reach 264.40 billion by 2032. Despite such growth, developers hesitate to adapt low-code platforms.
One of the key reasons is that developers believe that low-code platforms might take away their jobs and render them useless in organizations. On the contrary, low-code platforms help developers overcome common development pain points without replacing the need for skilled experts.
This article will explore why low-code platforms are developers’ allies, not adversaries.
Why Low-code Platforms Pose No Threat to Developers
Low-code platforms augment a developer’s role in the organization by streamlining their routines and automating repetitive workflows. This allows them to focus on more complex and core tasks that require their attention and skills.
Here is a detailed view of the reasons developers can rely on low-code platforms instead of fearing them.
1. Complements Developers
During the development phase, developers focus on multiple aspects of the software. They are responsible for code generation, optimization and even enhancing security. Additionally, they need to keep checking the code syntax and ensure there are fewer errors. Simple routine tasks can take up a lot of their time.
In such scenarios, low-code development platforms can be a valuable aid, allowing developers to automate repetitive tasks and focus on more complex aspects of the project. For instance, Retool is a low-code platform that enables developers to create and scale applications.
Additionally, several Retool alternatives are available in the market, such as Appsmith, Superblocks, and UI Bakery, which offer similar features and assist with code generation, data entry, and other redundant tasks.
This allows the developers to focus on customizing the solutions and crafting creative applications. As the low-code platforms can be used by non-technical teams, it helps improve the usability and accessibility of the application.
2. Accelerates Workflows Through Automation
Low-code platforms are designed for automation and streamlining. One of the biggest issues that developers tend to face, causing lengthy cycles, is manual repetitive tasks. This could include writing the code, data entry, and reading the code to remove redundancy.
That’s where the low-code platforms can help them. These tools offer in-built workflows with automation that help you automate the data entry, form validation, and other tasks.
For example, if you want to create a code for the backend database interaction, you don’t need to work on it from scratch. The low-code tool helps pick out the perfect code from the in-built templates. This impacts your developer’s efficiency and performance.
Additionally, the in-built templates can reduce manual error, thus enabling better solutions. Several data synchronization tasks take up your developer’s time.
A classic example is maintaining customer records across the databases in the CRM software. You can use the low-code tools and their automated workflows to sync the data, generate the reports, and offer insights.
The automation abilities can help reduce the developer’s burden, allowing them to focus on core tasks. Moreover, it can reduce the cycle length and help improve product quality.
3. Empowers Non-technical Professionals
Whether your business team wants to build an MVP or validate a particular idea, they can easily use the low-code tools. They don’t depend on the developers for these tasks. As a result, developers can focus on the technical projects that require their skills and expertise.
Top low-code platforms like Appsmith, OutSystem, and Mendix have a drag-and-drop interface with built-in modules to speed up development. As a result, the project managers or business analysts need not understand coding. They think through the interface design and achieve their desired software within the timeline.
They simply need to think through the workflow and user journey for the application. Once they have a formal understanding of the movement, the app development hardly takes any time.
Owing to the democratization offered by the low-code tools, developers can reduce project timelines. Moreover, there is less dependency on the IT department, which also helps them focus on high-value projects comprising complexities. This allows business teams to adapt to market shifts, newer user requirements, and goal changes.
4. Provides Opportunities for Skill Specialization
The low-code platforms, such as Retool alternatives, open up a window of opportunities for the developer. Let’s understand this with an example.
Imagine struggling with code generation and regular data entry work. This leaves developers with no time to focus on upskilling themselves and offering newer tech solutions to the business. This impacts your business as well.
With low-code tools, your developers can move their focus from simple tasks to specialized fields like custom API development, AI integration, and others. They can deep dive into ML algorithm development, which will enhance your application and offer excellent business outcomes.
Additionally, when your developer continues to learn and challenge themselves, they stay motivated. It is rewarding, fosters innovation, and helps them push their boundaries. Eventually, your business will get cutting-edge and efficient solutions that resolve prominent issues.
5. Increases Demand Multi-skilled Developers
The development realm is competitive and businesses are seeking experts who can bridge the gaps between low-code and traditional development practices. They want someone who can ably use the low-code approaches with conventional practices to reduce cycle length and increase efficiency.
This will help the different industries strive to deliver high-quality, secure, and well-defined solutions. For example, the best healthcare software must adhere to HIPAA compliance.
As a result, solution architects, DevOps engineers, and full-stack developers are seeing a particular increase in demand. Their ability to integrate low-code with conventional approaches helps them release efficient and robust solutions.
You will notice that the demand for multi-faceted developers will continue to increase. Instead of posing a threat, low-code tools are benefitting the developers by increasing their opportunities.
Conclusion
Low-code tools are not a threat to the developers but the perfect ally for them. Apart from helping developers streamline the processes, it also helps with diverse work opportunities.
Low-code tools automate routine workflows and empower non-tech persons, which leaves developers with time to focus on innovation and creativity. It has also spread the demand for multi-skilled developers, thus adding to the zone of opportunities.
Low-code tools are helping developers stay motivated, gain professional advancements, and improve their career graphs. By embracing low-code tools, the developers can stay efficient and innovative, thus ensuring successful project outcomes.
